Extreme weather events in the past year have tested the resilience of Ireland's infrastructure, economy, and health-care services, the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has claimed

From storms and an ex-hurricane to a prolonged drought and heat wave- weather events have had a major effect on the country due to climate change, Laura Burke said.

She stressed that relentless implementation of policy is essential for Ireland to be a leader in tackling climate change.

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Ms Burke welcomed the advancement of the National Mitigation Plan and National Adaptation Framework.

She added: “The systemic nature of the climate challenge emphasises the need to deliver enduring, integrated, all-of-government structures with clear responsibility and accountability.

“We need to move from a focus on achieving compliance with international commitments to driving the transformational change that is urgently needed across our entire economy and society so as to deliver on Ireland’s ambition to be a leader in tackling climate change and in doing so protect our health and well being.”

Ms Burke said that with the changing climate, we can expect extreme events at greater frequency into the future.

She also said that every individual has a role to play in tackling climate change.

“People can make changes by adhering to regulations and dealing with matters such as litter, waste prevention, water use, smoky coal use, septic tank management, and conspicuous consumerism, all of which impact on our health, the quality of our environment and sustainability of resources use.

“ Our environment, quite literally, sustains us and we all have a role to play in its protection,” she said.